Decision 45 COM 7B.1

Pantanal Conservation Area (Brazil) (N 999)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/23/45.COM/7B.Add,
2. Recalling Decision 44 COM 7B.195 adopted at its extended 44th session (Fuzhou/online, 2021),
3. Notes with concern that severe drought has led to the most extensive fires ever recorded, affecting 32% of the wider Pantanal biome, including the property;
4. Welcomes the immediate actions taken to suppress the fires and limit the damage to the biodiversity of the property, including recent efforts to prevent fires in the surrounding area from reaching the property in 2021;
5. Also welcomes the processes underway to acquire the necessary personnel, equipment, and materials to manage fires and, noting the potential for climate change to further exacerbate extreme weather conditions such as drought and resulting wildfires, requests the State Party to increase capacity in fire management, including prevention and mitigation measures;
6. Reiterates its request to the State Party to assess the impacts of the wildfires on the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property and to submit this assessment to the World Heritage Centre, when available;
7. Encourages continued efforts to conserve and recover biodiversity in the Pantanal biome, and urges the State Party to facilitate the recovery of fire-impacted fauna and flora that constitute part of the OUV across the entire property;
8. Recognizing the impacts of fires on a number of natural World Heritage properties, encourages again the State Party to exchange knowledge and best practices of fire management strategies in natural World Heritage properties with other States Parties facing similar threats;
9. Finally requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2024, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 47th session.